Women We Admire is pleased to announce Top Women Leaders for 2023. Women have long played pivotal roles in shaping the course of history and in recent times, there has been a notable surge in the recognition and empowerment in leadership positions across various sectors, from politics and business to academia and social activism. The notable awardees on this list bring unique perspectives, resilience, and transformative leadership styles to the forefront, challenging traditional norms and breaking barriers. Their presence not only exemplifies progress toward equality but also highlights the undeniable impact women can have in driving positive change, fostering inclusivity, and inspiring future generations to aspire to leadership roles regardless of gender. Evidently, their leadership is an indispensable force in shaping a more equitable and diverse world.
This year's recipients include Meghan Henselwood, Managing Director of Transactions at Manulife Investment Management, where she is responsible for all acquisition activity across Western Canada, leveraging her expertise from one of the largest wealth management firms in the country. In addition, Beth Miller is the Executive Director of the Creative Education Foundation and a seasoned nonprofit leader who has successfully guided the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and spearheaded the development of new virtual programs, expanding its audience. Also, Whitney Soule is laser-focused on building greater equity in admissions as Vice Provost and the first female Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, with more than three decades of experience in higher education admissions.
We commend these individuals for their commitment to the organizations they serve. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of this group of Top Women Leaders of 2023.
Dr. Tasha Austin-Williams
Principal, Deloitte Risk and Financial Advisory Services
Dr. Tasha Austin-Williams is a Principal within Deloitte's Risk and Financial Advisory business boasting an extensive career of over 25 years in professional services. Her expertise spans the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics across a multitude of domains, including commercial and federal financial statement audits, fraud detection and analysis, dispute resolution and investigations, and international affairs.
Tasha assumes a pivotal role in guiding Deloitte's endeavors within the dynamic domain of Artificial Intelligence. Her distinctive contribution resides in pioneering innovative, insight-driven solutions that catalyze profound transformation for her clients' core missions. Tasha’s day-to-day role includes serving as the lead business partner actively contributing to the advancement of the state diplomacy's critical mission. More broadly, Tasha provides strategic guidance to C-Suite Executives and management across the federal community, aiding them in navigating their agencies' most intricate and distinctive data challenges. Additionally, Tasha is instrumental in assisting organizations in evaluating their readiness for and adoption of AI solutions.
Tasha also serves as the Executive Director of Deloitte's Artificial Intelligence Institute for Government, where she plays a pivotal role in the organization's mission to bolster its capabilities in pivotal domains, particularly in the realm of trustworthy and ethical AI. Her portfolio encompasses the significant task of amplifying Deloitte's thought leadership and digital footprint within the sphere of AI for the public sector. Central to Tasha's mandate is the orchestration of a multifaceted ecosystem, drawing together diverse stakeholders comprising government executives, leaders in non-profit organizations, academia, policymakers, and technology firms. Tasha recently completed her PhD research in Artificial Intelligence which focused on using AI to detect human bias to address disparities in higher education and with financial inclusion. Tasha currently serves on the Board of Directors for NABA Inc. where she leads the Strategy, Innovation, and Technology Committee.
Deepti Kunupudi
Head of Decision Science, MoneyGram International
Deepti Kunupudi is a results-oriented leader with a diverse career that spans various industries. She is an accomplished AI and data science operations leader with extensive experience establishing AI capabilities that deliver valuable business insights. Her proficiency in these areas allows her to effectively drive organizational growth and make informed decisions that positively impact business outcomes.
Deepti Kunupudi's professional journey reflects her remarkable commitment to leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion, and innovation. She is an assertive, forward-thinking professional committed to driving progress in her industry, empowering fellow professionals, and fostering a culture of continuous growth and development. She brings a wide range of skills to the table, including business analysis, machine learning, AI, data management, cloud architecture, and vendor management.
Deepti is also an Advisory Board member for Data & AI companies, providing strategic guidance, contributing to business growth, and helping shape the future of AI. She actively mentors aspiring data scientists and encourages women to explore careers in STEM as Co-Chair of Young Women in Bio (RTP).
Whitney Soule
Vice Provost & Dean of Admissions, University of Pennsylvania
Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, Whitney Soule is the first female Dean of Admissions at Penn, with more than three decades of experience in higher education admissions. Prior to Penn, she served as senior vice president and dean of admissions and student aid at Bowdoin College. Her leadership at Bowdoin College advanced diversity and selectivity, with an increasing number of students of color, first-generation students, and students on financial aid.
A leader in envisioning the future of college admissions and the role of higher education in driving societal progress, Soule is a member of the Board of Directors of the Common Application, and the Chair of the Finance Committee for the Common Application. She also serves on the College Board Enrollment Leaders Group and the Advisory Core for the College Board Admissions Research Consortium. Additionally, she is a member of the Advisory Council of the NACAC Character Focus Initiative.
At Penn, Soule is laser-focused on building greater equity in admissions. She worked closely with Heights Philadelphia to launch a free online course available to all students and families titled, “Applying to College 101.” This multi-channel approach prepares students for the college application process. Soule received the NEACAC Professional of the Year Award Recipient and is a regular speaker on advancing women in higher education leadership, most recently at the NACAC 2023 Conference. She is quoted in national media outlets including Bloomberg, Forbes, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal, and has had opinion pieces featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Dallas Morning News, and Grown & Flown. Soule began her college admissions career at Bates College. She has an undergraduate degree from Bates College and a master’s degree from Harvard University.
Melanie DiFeo
Chief of Staff and Culture Initiatives, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications, The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business
Melanie DiFeo works in multiple capacities at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business. Melanie currently holds the title of Senior Director, Marketing and Communications as well as Chief of Staff and Culture Initiatives. Melanie facilitates Fisher’s marketing and communications team, with responsibilities ranging from brand strategy and positioning, college marketing, strategic communications, media relations, alumni communications, and digital and non-digital advertising and social media.
As the Chief of Staff and Culture Initiatives, Melanie also serves on the college’s leadership team. In this capacity, Melanie collaborates with Fisher’s Office of Human Resources and also serves as a liaison to Fisher’s Staff Advisory Committee, the Culture Council, Buckeye Wellness Innovators, the Fisher Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee as well as other members of the Fisher employee community. Melanie works to elevate the staff experience through advocacy and communication, as well as support culture-enhancing initiatives at the college.
Prior to joining Fisher College of Business, Melanie was the Director of Marketing and Communications at what was The Office of Corporate and Economic Engagement “DBA” Corporate Engagement Office (CEO) and The Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) at Ohio State, where her role included leading the marketing and communications team as well as highlighting Ohio State University’s rapidly growing startup portfolio. Prior to that, she worked in marketing and branding, editorial, public relations, and government affairs roles at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and the Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center (OARDC). Melanie is a double alumna of Ohio State and is very passionate about the Buckeye community. She also volunteers her time on the boards of two non-profit organizations, one for cancer research and the other for an equestrian sports exhibition center.
Victoire Sabine Ouedraogo
SVP, Apps Development Group Manager, Citi
Victoire Sabine Ouédraogo is a Senior Vice President at Citibank where she leads geographically dispersed technology teams to deliver best-in-class IT solutions. Before this role, she held various positions in technology at Crédit Agricole and BNP Paribas, Financial Services leaders in Europe.
Victoire was born and raised in Burkina Faso and is fascinated by STEM. In high school, Victoire was one of five girls selected to represent Burkina Faso at an international excellence camp for girls in sciences, organized by Dr. Cheick Modibo Diarra’s nonprofit organization at the time. In her senior year in high school, she was chosen to participate in the National Olympiads in mathematics, physics, and biology.
In 2006, Victoire left Burkina Faso to pursue her college studies in France. After two years of intensive programs, she succeeded in the French nationwide competitive examinations for engineering school by securing a seat at ENSEA. She earned her master of engineering in computer science three years later. In 2021 she left France to enhance her leadership and business skills in Boston where she graduated from HULT International Business School with an MBA specializing in analytics.
Din Chaney
VP, Talent and Talent Sourcing, HireBetter
Din Chaney is a talent, diversity, and organizational design executive with a track record of anticipating disruption trends and crafting talent strategies to transform business. As the VP of Talent-as-a-Service at HireBetter, Din Chaney oversees HireBetter’s on-demand talent support service which provides a range of services from top-of-the-funnel sourcing support to talent strategy and planning.
Prior to HireBetter, Din was the vice president of talent sourcing for Diverse Recruiting Experts, a company dedicated to making meaningful changes in diversity, equity, and inclusion by partnering with their clients and advising on talent acquisition and retention. In Q4 of 2022, Diverse Recruiting Experts was acquired by HireBetter, a leader in talent recruiting and executive sourcing for entrepreneurial and growth-minded companies.
Din holds an undergraduate degree in communication from the University of Texas at Austin and a Doctorate in Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture. Additionally, she is Diversity Sourcing certified and a certified IBM Data Science Specialist.
Theresa Powell
Vice President for Operations, Langston University
Theresa Powell serves as the inaugural Vice President for Operations at Langston University, Oklahoma’s only HBCU. A student-centered higher education professional, Theresa joined the Langston University team in 2012. Prior to her appointment as Vice President for Operations in 2021, Theresa served for eight years as chief of staff within the Office of the President, leading and coordinating countless high-profile projects and priority initiatives from ideation to implementation. She continues to serve as an advisor and strategic liaison to the president, serving on the president’s cabinet for over ten years. As Vice President, Theresa leads a unique and complex division encompassing strategic enrollment, admissions and recruitment, student financial aid, public relations, marketing and communications, alumni affairs, emergency and risk management, capital projects, facilities management, and vendor relations in grounds, custodial, and dining, among others. She is also responsible for governing board and legal counsel relations. Theresa is a skillful communicator who values collaboration and innovation. Her leadership is focused on building efficient processes to maximize resources all while providing exemplary service to institutional stakeholders. Among Theresa’s vast and varied accomplishments is the distinct honor of receiving the Unsung Hero Award from the Langston University student body in 2022.
Prior to joining Langston University, Theresa began her career at Ohio University where she demonstrated extraordinary commitment to supporting student success and the institutional mission. Her broad professional experience at Ohio University included work in regional and branch campus administration, undergraduate admissions, distance and online education program administration, event coordination logistics, and student affairs.
A native of Ohio’s first capital, Theresa attended Ohio University in Athens where she earned her undergraduate degree in linguistics before relocating to Oklahoma in 2012. Theresa then attended the University of Oklahoma to earn a master of arts in Administrative Leadership.
Amanda Rodriguez
Founder and Co-CEO, LYT Consulting Group LLC
Amanda is an executive leader with 20 years of experience in business transformation and financial expertise in the oil and gas industry, government sector, banking industry, non-profit sector, and consulting services. She is the founder and co-CEO of LYT Consulting Group, a consulting and advisory firm serving clients to overcome challenges, innovate and adapt, and take advantage of opportunities to better our community.
In her prior role as a client account executive at Accenture, a leading global professional services company, she helped clients add value by strengthening their strategy, optimizing operations, accelerating revenue growth, and enhancing services. Before joining Accenture, Amanda served as the State of Oklahoma's first CFO charged with oversight of $23 billion in state and federal funding, providing leadership to drive strategic financial decisions, solutions, and outcomes. She directly advised the Governor and Cabinet Secretaries as well as negotiated across the House and Senate on state financial matters.
Prior to the State CFO role, Amanda worked at Chesapeake Energy leading critical initiatives in Internal Audit and Accounting. During her time in the oil and gas industry, she led teams with a focus on empowering people, enhancing and protecting organizational value, and helping the organization achieve its strategic, operational, financial, and compliance objectives. Amanda serves on the Board of Directors for Feed the Children, Citizens Bank of Edmond, and is an advisory board member for Oklahoma City University.
Rosslyn Cooper
Senior Vice President & Strategic Business Architect, WSP Global Inc.
As SVP and Strategic Business Architect for WSP's Project Horizon Business Platform, Rosslyn is responsible for cross-functional processes across all modules, and for interactions and integrations with other WSP initiatives. She plays a key role in leading the deployment of a fully integrated Oracle Cloud ERP platform and ensures that critical deliverables, process improvement, and value streams for the organization are developed and deployed. She is passionate about bringing efficiency and consistency to the forefront of the ERP journey for both projects and clients.
Rosslyn is helping to improve operational excellence through simplification and standardization of business processes. She has strong project management skills and extensive experience in the financial and commercial management of projects. She is solution-focused and experienced in Lean Six Sigma principles.
Rosslyn first joined WSP in Australia in 2008 and has enjoyed a varied and exciting career during this time, including a move to Nashville, Tennessee in 2016. She was awarded WSP USA's Business Support "Extra Mile" Award in 2019.
Ikram Guerd
VP Global Marketing - Managing Director US, Aspivix
Ikram Guerd is Vice President of Global Marketing for the innovative FemTech, Aspivix, whose mission is to make gynecology now modern with gentle in mind. She leads the global strategic marketing and communications strategy to raise awareness around innovative solutions to reduce pain for women and is also in charge of running operations in the US.
As a seasoned healthcare marketing expert with 18+ years of an international career in Europe and the USA, she is a proven award-winning marketing leader with a full set of experience in leading successful teams, managing the product lifecycle, building impactful marketing strategies including content generation processes, getting things done and driving growth and culture. She has been invited to participate as a moderator and speaker in marketing expert talks, as well as being a marketing awards judge several times.
Passionate about women's empowerment, she advocates for them and provides mentoring and coaching for young girls and women at early stages in their careers, as well as mid-level managers. She is a part of the Board of Directors of the non-profit organization, Inspiring Girls USA, whose mission is to inspire young girls, as well as to break down gender stereotypes by introducing girls to role models and meaningful conversations about their future and to a broad scope of jobs. She holds a master’s in strategic marketing and communication from ISG Business School in Paris (France). She has a passion for travel, cooking, and photography. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, giving back to the community, and learning new skills.
Sarah Oliver, CPA
CFO, Sansone Group
Sarah Oliver is an accomplished Accounting and Financial Management professional with experience guiding the financial direction of impactful organizations and delivering significant returns on stakeholder trust and confidence. She is highly focused on responsible corporate governance and sound strategic financial planning. She is adept at leading the budgetary and forecasting process, establishing internal controls, minimizing risk, and formalizing the strategic vision. Her heightened communication skills underline an ability to effect stellar stakeholder management and the merging of long-term, strategic objectives with daily operations.
With a proven track record in financial control and reporting, accounting, tax, risk and compliance, and audit, Sarah brings over 20 years of extensive financial management experience to the role. Her expertise in strategic cost management and capital optimization has consistently driven significant improvements in business profitability. Having held senior leadership positions at various companies in Missouri, Sarah's appointment to CFO adds immense value to Sansone Group, benefiting their clients, partners, and investors as they continue to help businesses build their legacies.
Sansone Group is a family-owned and operated, national commercial real estate firm headquartered in St. Louis with eight offices across the US. The firm specializes in development, facility management, and brokerage services in commercial and residential sectors. Sansone Group is committed to providing superior and comprehensive commercial real estate services for every customer through Teamwork, Creativity, Hard Work, Faith, and Professionalism.
Oliver holds an MBA from Lindenwood University and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Harvard University. She is also a CPA and Chartered Global Management accountant. When she's not busy with her professional commitments, Sarah enjoys traveling, scuba diving, and attending concerts, shows, or sporting events with her husband and son.
Renata Caine
Revenue Creator / Leader of Great Teams, RC Insights
Renata is a payments leader with 17 years of experience building businesses and teams across the globe. Renata has held positions including chief commercial officer at Justt, where she built a Go-to-Market "machine" for the Tel Aviv-based Chargebacks startup. Previously, she spent 4+ years at market-leading modern card issuer, Marqeta (NASDAQ: MQ), where she served as SVP of international, strategy, and planning, and saw the company through its 2021 initial public offering. Renata and her team managed the company’s rapidly scaling business operations and guided its transformation into a truly global enterprise. Her teams carried Marqeta into multiple regions, bringing payment expertise into highly regulated and complex regional landscapes.
A veteran in the fintech and payments space, Caine previously spent nearly 12 years at WEX (NYSE: WEX), spending much of her tenure in the commercial payments division of the organization. Renata is passionate about payments and has been advising organizations with Point72 Ventures, supporting specific investment activities through diligence, value creation, and go-to-market (GTM) planning.
Building new teams to drive growth with scale in mind has always been her passion. Previously named one of the Most Powerful Women in Technology, Renata thrives at the intersection of payments, technology, and psychology. She believes having an eye on each is how you grow a business successfully, thoughtfully, and efficiently. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in Psychology.
Namrita Seenath
Chief of Staff to the CTO, Sagent
Namrita (Priya) Seenath joined Sagent as Chief of Staff to the CTO in January 2023. She is responsible for strategic support, business operations, cross-functional collaboration, budget and resource management, performance tracking, and reporting and talent management. Prior to joining Sagent, Priya was a servicing executive at Freedom Mortgage within the residential servicing division. In this role, Priya was responsible for areas within the servicing organization with a strong focus on data integrity, process improvement, compliance, and customer experience. With 25+ years of experience, Priya has held several roles that included the oversight of GSE/MI relations, client relations & production support overseeing new client implementation, and sales support. She spent several years at organizations that included JP Morgan Chase & Lender Processing Services. Her primary focus while in those roles was to establish, manage, and maintain strategic relationships while providing the best service to its customers.
Priya enthusiastically leads at exceeding business goals while fostering a desirable work environment. She works hard to create a culture of integrity and inspires excellence at all levels. What makes Priya powerful as a mortgage executive is her ability to always show clear and concise intention, her agility and speed to execute, how she challenges the status quo, and how she is always making herself and her whole team relevant. She can transform problems into challenges and ultimately find the best solution for both the firm and the customer.
What makes Priya powerful as a champion for her customers is her desire to do the right thing. Her integrity, intention to do what is right, drive for efficiency, and love to inspire people are a lifestyle. It's not something she decides to do, it is her. The most important piece of advice she has received is to be yourself and to never stop learning. This helps to keep her motivated, relevant, and passionate about succeeding and evolving as an individual, team, and organization.
Beth Miller
Executive Director, Creative Education Foundation
Beth is a 20+ year nonprofit leader who is passionate about history, education, leadership, and creativity. As the Executive Director of the Creative Education Foundation (CEF), she has grown and professionalized all contributed and earned revenue streams including the development of Creative Problem Solving (CPS) Professional Development training for public school educators and administrators. Beth and the CEF team have successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and have developed new virtual programs, which have expanded the CEF audience. Currently, Beth is exploring collaborative partnerships with The Illumination Project, the Center for Policing Equity, and various national Invention Conventions.
Beth taught writing at Trinity College for 10 years and served as a Writing Fellow at Quinnipiac University, where she taught and assisted with writing program curriculum design. Beth earned her BA in women’s studies (2000) and her MA in American studies (2003) at Trinity College, graduating with distinction for both degrees. She was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. For her scholarship and community service, Beth received the Ann Petry Book Prize in American Studies, the D.G. Brinton Thompson Prize in United States History, the Samuel S. Fishzohn Award for Civil Rights and Community Service, the Elma H. Martin Book Prize for Student Leadership, and the Tyler Award for Interdisciplinary Studies.
Beth currently serves as a Trustee of the Ahearn Family Foundation and recently completed her tenure as a member of the Trinity College National Alumni Association Executive Committee. In 2005, Beth was hired to write “A Life-Giving Spirit:” 75 Years at the Bushnell, which was a history of The Bushnell Memorial Theater in Hartford, Connecticut. In 2017, Beth received an honorary PhD in Arts and Humane Letters from Southern New Hampshire University for her academic and professional achievements. Her award-winning senior seminar thesis, “Challenging Race and Gender Boundaries in Antebellum America” about Prudence Crandall, was adapted as the play, “An Education in Prudence,” produced by the Open Theater Project in Boston, Massachusetts in February 2018. In 2019, Beth was recognized by her alma mater as one of the “50 for the next 50 Years,” which celebrated Trinity’s 50th anniversary of co-education by honoring 50 professors, alumni, and students as Trinity’s current and future women leaders.
Meghan Henselwood
Managing Director, Transactions, Manulife Investment Management
Meghan Henselwood is responsible for acquisition activity across all property types and risk profiles in Western Canada on behalf of Manulife’s general account and third‐party clients. Before joining the firm, she worked at Lotus Capital as the director of acquisitions. She was responsible for sourcing, evaluating, negotiating, and contracting real estate investment transactions across Canada while overseeing the underwriting and due diligence process. Previously, she worked at Cushman & Wakefield as a financial analyst. Meghan began her career at one of Canada’s largest wealth management firms, evaluating companies and analyzing future investment products and opportunities.
Meghan is passionate about advancing women in their careers and strives to do this through her involvement with CREW Vancouver as the CREW Vancouver 2024 President. She first volunteered on the membership committee before joining the board as co-director of events in 2022. In 2021, Meghan helped spearhead the creation of the CREW Vancouver Leadership Awards, and in 2022 helped execute CREW Vancouver’s inaugural Leadership Awards Gala. Meghan has been involved as a mentor in both the UCREW and regular mentorship programs. Meghan holds an MSc in finance from Lancaster University and a BBA from Okanagan College, University of British Columbia.
Tyese Lawyer
President and CEO, Our House, Inc.
Tyese Lawyer is the President and CEO of Our House, Inc. The mission of Our House is to end the cycle of homelessness for families. Our House was established in 1988 by concerned community residents who realized that shelter rules required homeless families to leave early each morning and not return until late afternoon. This left families with nowhere to go during the day, and women with no one to care for their children while they attempted to find work or hold down a job.
At Our House, they provide a pathway to stability and independence for families experiencing homelessness through access to health care, early childhood education, housing, and employment. Their interrelated programs address the root causes of homelessness and ensure every family that leaves Our House has the tools needed to achieve lasting self-sufficiency.
Lawyer holds a master’s degree in psychology and has worked with vulnerable and at-risk populations for more than two decades, with over 20 years of experience in managing non-profit programs for homeless and low-income families. She has also served as a NAEYC Validator and presently serves as Chair on the DeKalb County Continuum of Care Board of Directors.
Tania Daniel
VP of Entrepreneurship Initiatives, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas
Tania Daniel is the Vice President of Entrepreneurship Initiatives for Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas and manages the JA Company Program, one of the largest entrepreneurship education programs in the world. Under her leadership, the JA Company Program and related special events have witnessed record growth and celebrated partnerships in Houston. She previously served as district director for JA's largest territories, Fort Bend, and outlying areas, setting new records for expansion and outreach. Prior to joining JA, Tania worked in the areas of human rights advocacy, nation-building, peace, and reconciliation. She holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of London, specializing in Human Rights Law.
Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tania reflects that the brief time spent in the Northern war zones as a research intern while a student at the University of Colombo (Sri Lanka) was a life-changing experience, and ignited her passion for the Right to Education as well as minority rights. Witnessing elementary school children attempting to study amidst the rubble of their bombed and shelled schools made her vow to do better. She is also passionate about supporting teen business leaders in her community and abides by the mission that she defined for the JA Company Program: Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is a great equalizer in our world and Tania enjoys coaching high school and middle school students to establish, launch, and operate their early-stage startups. She believes that the JA Company Program is helping to create the next generation of pioneering American entrepreneurs. Fueled by the power of potent community and corporate partnerships, Tania believes that the JA Company Program, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness education can passionately support our ecosystem.
Tania has been celebrated by the Houston Business Journal as an Honoree of the 40 Under 40 Awards (2021), and The Women Who Mean Business Awards (2022), and was recently recognized as an Outstanding Diversity Champion 2023 (Diversity in Business Awards). In her spare time, she loves going for long hikes with her rescue dogs, watching documentaries on World War II and ancient civilizations, and learning about other cultures through travel.
Ashna Ali
Co-founder and Director of Strategy & Growth, Anti-Heroine Media
Ashna Ali is a Toronto-based consultant widely recognized for her expertise in strategic communications and social impact. She has a proven track record of collaboration with purpose-driven organizations and enterprises. With a rich background in the nonprofit sector, Ashna's journey took a transformative turn in 2020 when she co-founded Anti-Heroine Media, a creative communications studio committed to harnessing the power of storytelling for social change. Ashna's knowledge spans strategic communications, corporate social responsibility, horizontal leadership, and systems thinking. Her ability to foster strategic partnerships and co-create cultures of inclusion is a testament to her vision for a more equitable world.
In the digital domain, Ashna has proficiency in digital rights, AI, innovation, and campaigning. Anti-Heroine Media foregrounds inclusive design, applying an intersectional lens to its projects. The studio has collaborated with diverse organizations including the World YWCA, the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy, Oxfam Canada, the International Development Research Centre, and the gender division of Canada’s Department of Global Affairs.
Ashna's commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices extends beyond the studio's work. She has strategized digital campaigns for global coalitions, emphasizing women's meaningful inclusion in critical processes like the Korean peace negotiations. Her involvement in InterviewHer, a platform connecting journalists with women experts in conflict and security, underscores her dedication to promoting diverse perspectives. In 2023, Ashna’s short film "Girê" premiered at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, showcasing her desire to break barriers both in the boardroom and on the silver screen.
A seasoned speaker, Ashna regularly facilitates workshops and has addressed forums such as the Senate of Canada, Parliament Hill, and the Global Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs, advocating for women's meaningful participation in peace movements. With a background in Anthropology from Western University, Ashna catalyzes positive change using the power of narratives to challenge the status quo.
Emily Hill
Assistant Dean of Marketing and Recruitment, University of San Diego, Knauss School of Business
As Assistant Dean of Marketing and Recruitment, Emily Hill oversees the marketing and communications strategy for the University of San Diego’s Knauss School of Business, including leading campaigns and initiatives that enhance awareness and reputation, ensuring brand alignment and consistency, and contributing to the overall success of the School. She also leads the School’s recruitment and admissions team, directing and executing differentiated lead generation marketing campaigns, and implementing conversion-centric nurturing strategies and streamlined processes that drive enrollment growth for the university’s degree programs. She challenges the status quo and consistently pushes to make institutional changes, which resulted in record-breaking enrollments in her first 6 months in the role. Emily confidently led her team to increase graduate business enrollments by 30%, completely turning around a failing portfolio after 5 years of decline in her first year on the job. By removing inequitable barriers, she also significantly increased diversity in all programs in the KSB. Emily is currently on track to increase graduate business enrollments by another 20% this year, signaling two years of positive growth and breaking the all-time enrollment record for USD graduate business enrollments.
Emily has more than a decade of experience in marketing and communications for educational institutions. Prior to joining the Knauss School of Business, Emily worked in enrollment management at the University of California San Diego where she helped the school bring in record-breaking undergraduate student applications. Emily completed her MBA at Western Governors University and received her undergraduate degree in journalism and media studies from San Diego State University.
Stacey Masson
Vice President of Marketing and Communications, The YMCAs of Québec
Stacey is a natural-born entrepreneur who identifies the needs of an organization and then uses her creativity to design and implement effective solutions to address them. Her exceptional leadership ability, strategic savvy, and work ethic underpin her mandate at the YMCAs of Québec, where she’s responsible for building integrated marketing communications strategies and awareness around the charity's social impact. She is an impassioned supporter of people who excel as a coach or mentor, challenging team members to achieve their highest potential.
Over her more than 20-year career, she has created and carried out powerful strategies across regions, languages, and cultures while holding prestigious roles at organizations like Cossette, TELUS, Hydro-Québec, Germain Hôtels and the YMCAs of Québec. These roles have allowed her to hone her skills in marketing and communications, customer experience, corporate social responsibility, public affairs, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Stacey is an alumna of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. Stacey was named among Concordia University’s 50 Under 50 Shaping Tomorrow and among the Top 50 Women Leaders of Montreal by Women We Admire.
Stacey is actively engaged in the community and currently sits on the Board of Directors for ART Souterrain, an organization that aims to make contemporary art more accessible, as well as on the YMCA of Québec’s Alternative Suspension Social Impact Bond Board and the Communications Committee for Mission Inclusion. She has led a mission for Public Relations Without Borders in Bolivia, volunteered for MU—an organization that works to beautify Montréal through mural art—and has been an ambassador for La Ruche, a crowdfunding platform that promotes projects with a positive impact on local economies through citizen engagement.
Stacey holds an undergraduate degree in communications studies and studied photography at Concordia University. She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and splits most of her time between Montréal and Gatineau, Québec.